Fecteau: About Clinton’s Damn Emails

Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Matt Fecteau, GoLocalWorcester Guest MINDSETTER™

The email controversy plaguing Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign reached a fever pitch on the debate stage last October. Clinton’s democratic rival for president, US Senator Bernie Sanders, became so disgusted he openly declared he was sick of hearing about her “damn emails.” I agree, and you should too. 

This email boondoggle arose from the half-baked litany of futile, yet expensive G.O.P.-led Benghazi investigations. These politically motivated investigations revealed then-Secretary of State Clinton’s used a private email server during her tenure (if it sounds pretty boring, that’s because it is).  And like losers smugly holding up their participation trophy in triumph, the Republicans shamelessly showcased their meager findings for all the world to see.     

This preposterous email controversy continues to hound Clinton’s campaign to this day; thanks due to Republican posturing. It does sound unscrupulous, a person in power, abusing the rules, but looking closer; past the sleazy talking points and cheap demagoguery, this issue barely registers on the scandal Richter scale. 

Let’s be honest; the use of a private server wasn’t the best idea. Some emails on Clinton’s server contained information that could be deemed classified, secret, and top secret, but without the respective markings. Though, in the era of over classification, hardly an unpardonable sin.  Also, thousands of emails were classified after the fact – many people forget that part.   

The emails already classified at the time they were delivered are most concerning. These emails contained categorized markings (not in the header per policy), and were being stored in a server outside of government control. After being interviewed by the FBI, Clinton -- who didn’t receive any formal security training – said she likely didn’t know the classification level per the designation on the email subject line, and didn’t know of the prohibition to use a private server. This was ruled a State Department communication issue, not deliberate neglect. 

In addition, the use of a personal email server has some precedent.  Former Secretary of State Colin Powell also used a similar email server to conduct official business. In fact, Powell recommended then-Secretary of State Clinton use a private server to keep in touch with friends and employees. Yet, why no G.O.P-led calls for an investigation of his affairs? Where is the condemnation? Oh yeah, Powell served under a Republican president. 

Some parallels have been drawn to the case of then-CIA director David Petraeus, and his handling of classified information.  While director of the CIA, Petraeus intentionally provided his mistress classified intelligence. Eventually, after a thorough investigation, Petraeus pled guilty to one count of mishandling classified information. 

This comparison is somewhat misleading. Petraeus deliberately provided classified materials to his mistress. Clinton certainly didn’t intentionally turn over classified information to a third party. This is a point that needs to be emphasized more often. 

Clinton’s critics argue she should be charged with a crime, but there has to be a crime allegedly committed in the first place. Unlike the case with Petraeus, Mrs. Clinton’s peccadillos did not warrant a criminal charge, that has been proven. Both the FBI’s and the State Department’s independent review found no evidence that there was any wrongdoing. It should be noted, her actions were found to have violated only the State Department’s arcane and antiquated policy, never anything against the law. 

Clinton demonstrated bad judgement and heeded flawed advice, but that certainly doesn’t make her a criminal; this should be banished to a mere footnote in the history books.  Let’s move on to a substantive conversation focusing on the issues such as who should have their finger on the button of our nuclear arsenal.  

 

Matt Fecteau (Matthew.Fecteau@gmail.com) of Pawtucket, Rhode Island lost to state Senator Jamie Doyle in 2016’s Democratic primary. He is a former White House national security intern and Iraq war veteran.